How to bookmark a file

Question

Level 1

37 points

How to bookmark a file

Before I updated to Lion I was able to bookmark a text file within Safari so that I could click on the title in Safari and the text file would then open. It was an easier way for me to get to a file that I use often while using Safari (an example is that I keep all my credentialling codes in a text file and when I need to fill in a form while online I would be able to easily click on the bookmark shortcut to that file and it would open up instead of having to navigate to the folder that I have the original file buried in). Now in Lion I can still place the item into the bookmark bar but nothing happens when I click on the bookmark. Do I need to enable something or is it just not possible anymore?

iMac 20in (Intel), MacBook Pro (2.53GHz), Original iPhone, iPhone4, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Sep 7, 2011 8:16 PM

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Answer 1

AdamKB

Level 2

340 points

Sep 7, 2011 8:20 PM in response to TosaDeac

Have you considered just adding the file to your dock?

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Answer 2

TosaDeac Author

Level 1

37 points

Sep 7, 2011 8:25 PM in response to AdamKB

Sure, I guess I could just put the file in my dock or on the desktop for that matter, but I like to keep everything tidy. Also I had some other files that had lists of passwords that I also would shortcut to and I like to keep those buried for at least a modicum of security (having all my passwords in one file is probably not smart, but makes life a lot easier!). Basically I was previously able to effectively put a hyperlink to a file or folder within the bookmark bar but now I can't any more.

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Answer 3

AdamKB

Level 2

340 points

Sep 7, 2011 8:31 PM in response to TosaDeac

I just tested several files and they all worked so long as they had a .txt file extension. One text file that did not have a file extension would not work for me.

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Answer 4

TosaDeac Author

Level 1

37 points

Sep 7, 2011 8:37 PM in response to AdamKB

well maybe that is my issue. I have all the files as .rtf so that must be the issue. I know I didn't change the file type from .txt to .rtf so do you think Safari previously would allow linking with .rtf as well or did all my files get reset to .rtf when I updated to Lion?

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Answer 5

léonie

Level 10

194,761 points

Sep 7, 2011 8:44 PM in response to TosaDeac

I also just tested several Bookmarks to local files - it worked with .pdf, .txt, .png

- but it worked only with newly added bookmarks, the old bookmarks to local files I created before the upgrade to Lion no longer work.

Perhaps it will help if you just recreate your old bookmarks.

Also I had some other files that had lists of passwords that I also would shortcut to and I like to keep those buried for at least a modicum of security (having all my passwords in one file is probably not smart, but makes life a lot easier!).

That is "security by obscurity" and quite risky - have you considered to put your critical notes and files into a password protected sparse bundle? That would be easy to access, all in one place - you can organize it like a local file system, mount it only if you need the access, and the data would be protected by the password.

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Answer 6

AdamKB

Level 2

340 points

Sep 7, 2011 8:49 PM in response to TosaDeac

Ah, you said text earlier.

I tried it with an RTF file and it worked fine.

What happens if you drag an RTF file over the browser window? Does it open?

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Answer 7

TosaDeac Author

Level 1

37 points

Sep 7, 2011 8:51 PM in response to léonie

So I saved the file as a .txt instead and it opened the file in the browser but that is not what it did in the past, it used to open up the file in a seperate TextEdit window instead which was more useful because I could stay on the web page i needed to enter info into and also could edit the file and make changes as well.

I completely agree with riskiness of having a non-pasword-protected file contain all that information but that is why I tried to not have it pinned to my dock or sitting on my desktop. I figured if it was buried deeper and the hyperlink in my bookmarks was not labeled something obvious like "passwords" it was both convenient and accessible without having to have a seperate password vault program that I need to login to each time I need information.

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Answer 8

TosaDeac Author

Level 1

37 points

Sep 7, 2011 8:59 PM in response to AdamKB

Nothing happens when I drop the .rtf

When I drop a .pdf or .txt then I get that document loaded up in the Safari window, but nothing with the .rtf which seems odd.

Like I mentioned, I want it to work like it previously did on Snow Leopard....click on the bookmark and open the .rtf in a seperate TextEdit window.

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Answer 9

AdamKB

Level 2

340 points

Sep 7, 2011 9:09 PM in response to TosaDeac

Does TextEdit load if you open the RTF file from the Finder?

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Answer 10

TosaDeac Author

Level 1

37 points

Sep 7, 2011 9:14 PM in response to AdamKB

yep. a few bounces and there it is. Obviously I can just navigate to my documents folder and then go to the .rtf file but was trying to recreate the short cut I had with Snow Leopard (or at least previous version of Safari) to save me extra steps.

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Answer 11

AdamKB

Level 2

340 points

Sep 7, 2011 9:39 PM in response to TosaDeac

Yes I'm just trying to figure out why it works for me but not for you. I'm at a loss though. You can always try the old standby - repair your permissions.

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Answer 12

TosaDeac Author

Level 1

37 points

Sep 7, 2011 9:57 PM in response to AdamKB

Oh well, tried that after your suggestion....no luck. I agree seems odd. I know it is not just my MBP since the behavior used to work on my iMac and now after updating Safari and to Lion it does not work on the iMac either. so it is not something I purposefully changed.

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